Walla Walla-Sasayama Sister City Affiliation Committee conducted it’s annual two week home stay visit to Sasayama with ten high school students and four adult chaperones. The group left Walla Walla on Oct 3 and returned Oct 16.

The students were great ambassadors and they indicated that the time was too short and they want to return.

During the visit to the mayor of Sasayama, Chairman Robert Keatts presented him with a cash donation to go toward the earthquake/tsunami relief. This donation in addition to a donation made by the sister city committee immediately after the earthquake and donations made by individuals directly to Japan Earthquake/Tsunami relief funds totals over $10,000 from Walla Walla

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of the recovery effort.

Sasayama Students coming Mar 24

Sasayama Sister City Committee will have a delegation of students with chaperones visit Walla Walla March 24 – April 3, 2012. When we know the details on how many boys and girls we will start to arrange host families. So expect an email or phone call in February. Of course you can always volunteer ahead of time.

40th Anniversary in 2012

The official anniversary date, using the signature of both cities upon the official document, is August 23, 1972. To honor the occasion, a delegation of approximately 25 adults will come from Sasayama August 29 through September 2. Their stay will be short, but busy.

This will give you another opportunity to host our friends from Sasayama and help celebrate the occasion. We will need lots of help for this event as it will involve the parade, attending the rodeo and a celebration party.

Fort Walla Walla Museum Exhibit

The sister city committee is working with Fort Walla Walla Museum to have an exhibit dedicated to the 40th Anniversary. Details are still being worked on. If anyone has an item that is representative of Sasayama that they would like to have put in the exhibit contact Robert Keatts.

The exhibit will be viewable from April 1, 2012 through September 30, 2012.

Recipient of 2011 Peace Prize Award

The Washington State Association of Sister Cities awarded its 2011 Peace Prize Award to Walla Walla-Sasayama Sister City Affiliation Committee. The honor is awarded to a city in Washington State that has demonstrated promotion of peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation – one individual, one community at a time.

There are 56 cities in the State of Washington that has one or more sister city relationships around the world.

Robert Keatts attended the Washington State Association of Sister Cities Conference in Bellevue, WA October 22, 2011. It was a surprise and an honor to receive the award. To everyone who has been involved, no matter how big or small, you are part of and get to share this award.

YOUR OFFICERS FOR 2012

The officers selected by the nomination committee, and officially voted on at the December 5, 2011 meeting were Chairman, Robert Keatts; Vice Chairman, Dustin Palmer; Secretary, Barbara Noel; and Treasurer, Peggy Curtis.

New Street in Sasayama

Sasayama now has a street named for Walla Walla. Next time you go to Sasayama you can ask someone in City hall how to get to Walla Walla Street. It is just a short hop and skip out the front door and continue going south. If you get to the castle moat you have gone to far.